Planter having an integral water tray

ABSTRACT

A liner for use in a horticultural planter contains an integral water tray which is located between inner and outer fibrous layers of a liner. The water tray extends from a bottom surface of the liner to a peripheral top edge. The water tray is integral with the liner and located between outer and inner fibrous layers. The water tray extends also from the bottom surface to a peripheral edge which is spaced apart from the peripheral top edge of the liner. An overflow region is therefore formed between the peripheral top edge of the liner and the peripheral edge of the water tray.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/399,477, filed Jul. 29, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a horticultural planter and morespecifically to such a planter having a liner which includes an integralwater tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Planters in the form of hanging baskets have been utilized by homegardeners, horticultural professionals and enthusiasts for growing avariety of decorative and other plants. These planters typically includea steel or otherwise rigid basket which forms a generally opensemi-circular structure. Inside the basket, a material which allows thepassage of air such as sphagnum moss is utilized for lining the openbasket structure. Applying the sphagnum moss usually entails takingdried moss, which is brittle and crumbly, and soaking it in water tomake it sufficiently pliable to mold it around the interior of thebasket. This process has been found to be time consuming and often timesresults in inconsistent functional properties of the resultant lining.

A soil or other growing material is then placed within the lining forsupporting the roots of plantings. It is desirable in thesehorticultural applications to retain a desirable amount of water in thearea of the plant roots while allowing for air to flow into that samearea.

In response to the need for greater consistency and efficiency in makingthese baskets, several preformed liners have been developed for use withthese baskets. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,191 teaches a preformedliner for use in a wire hanging basket. The liner is formed of a fibrousmaterial and has a water controlling material embedded therein. Thispatent teaches that the liner is formed by joining two halves of thewater controlling material at a seam which runs laterally across thecenter of the liner. The seam extends from one end of a top peripheralsurface to another end of the top peripheral surface such that the lineris formed of two symmetrical halves.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,193 also teaches a liner for a horticultural hangingpot which has water retention features. This patent discloses a linerformed of several layers including a hemp cloth layer, a super absorbentpolymer powder layer, a peat moss powder layer, a jute liner, and aporous plastic film layer. All layers, including the porous plasticlayer which serves to retain water, extend over the entire surface ofthe liner. Therefore, when installed, the porous plastic layer extendsall the way to the top peripheral surface of the basket thus having thecapability to retain water up to this top peripheral edge.

A problem exists in that both these designs allow for overfilling of theliner which may prevent adequate air flow therethrough. Each of theseliners attempt to mitigate the over watering problem by allowing forpassage of water through essentially the bottom end of the basket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A liner for use in a horticultural planter according to the presentinvention contains an integral water tray which is located between innerand outer fibrous layers of a liner. The water tray extends from abottom surface of the liner to a peripheral top edge. The water tray isintegral with the liner and located between outer and inner fibrouslayers. The water tray extends also from the bottom surface to aperipheral edge which is spaced apart from the peripheral top edge ofthe liner. An overflow region is therefore formed between the peripheraltop edge of the liner and the peripheral edge of the water tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying figures of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a planter having a liner according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will first be described generally with reference to FIG. 1and then more specifically with reference to FIG. 2. As best shown inFIG. 1, a planter 10 is formed of a basket 12 which supports a liner 18.The basket 12 is formed of a rigid wire like material or mayalternatively be formed of any suitable rigid material such as variousorganics, plastics or composites. These include, but are not limited to,willow, rattan, bamboo, galvanized steel and copper. In this embodiment,the basket 12 is shown as being of an open construction formed in asemi-spherical shape. Although the shape of the basket in thisembodiment is semi-spherical, it should be understood that many otherforms which would hold water and soil would be apparent to onereasonably skilled in the art. For example, the basket 12 may be formedin the shape of a window box, or any other rectangular, conical, orfrustoconical shape. A series of brackets or hangers 14 extend upwardfrom the basket 12 and are attached to a hook 16. It should also beunderstood that the hangers 14 and hook 16 are provided for hanging thebasket 12, but that the basket 12 is nonetheless mountable in other waysdepending upon its shape. For example, in a window box application thebasket may be fastened or otherwise hung over a windowsill, or supportedby a wall with various mounting features.

A liner 18 is placed within the basket 12 for supporting soil 13 orother suitable growing medium. Plants 11 are supported within the soil13. Referring to FIG. 2, the liner 18 is formed of a fibrous or otherporous material which allows passage of both air and water therethrough.Exemplary material for forming the liner 18 include coco fiber, sphagnummoss, paper/pulp mache, sisal or similar grass or spanish moss. Theliner 18 is formed to generally conform with and rest upon the innersurface of the basket 12. The liner 18 contains an inner fibrous layer29, an outer fibrous layer 28 and a peripheral top edge 19 which extendsupward from a bottom surface 21. In the case of this embodiment, theperipheral top edge 19 is positioned around the circular open end of thesemi-spherical basket 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral top edge 19extends slightly beyond the periphery of the basket 12. It should beunderstood, however, that the precise location of the peripheral topedge 19 relative to the basket 12 may be varied according to aestheticand other horticultural requirements for a particular application.

An integral water tray 20 is supported within the liner 18. The watertray 20 may be formed of a flexible or semi-rigid water blockingmaterial such as plastic. Alternatively, the water tray 20 may be formedof a semi-porous or perforated water resistant material for allowing acontrolled amount of water passage. Although FIG. 2 shows the water tray20 as being embedded in the liner 18 at a location which isapproximately half way between its inner and outer fibrous layers 29,28, it should be understood that this water tray 20 may be either neareror farther from the inner surface of the liner 18. The thickness of eachfibrous layer 28, 29 may be varied and the water tray 20 may optionallyform a portion of one of the inner or outer surfaces. The water tray 20extends over a substantial portion of the liner 18 up to a peripheraledge 22. The peripheral edge 22 is located below the peripheral top edge19 of the liner 18. Because of this arrangement, an overflow region 24is formed between the peripheral edge 22 and the peripheral top edge 19.As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, the overflow region 24 allows thepassage of air and/or water therethrough. It should be understood thatwhile the arrows are drawn to show the egress of either water or air,air may also enter through the overflow region 24 in a directionopposite the arrows.

Manufacture and assembly of the liner 18 will now be described ingreater detail. The liner 18 is formed by wetting a first layer offibrous material such as coco fiber. A binding material such as latexmay be included in the wetting step. The wet first layer is laid in amold, which in the embodiment shown, would consist of a semi-sphericalor bowl shaped member. The first layer of the fibrous material thereforeforms the outer fibrous layer 28. The water blocking material forforming the water tray 20 is cut to a desired shape, which in theembodiment shown, is a circular shape and then laid over the first layerwithin the mold such that its peripheral edge 22 is located below theperipheral top edge 19. A second layer of fibrous material is wettedwith a binding agent and placed over the water tray 20 within the mold.Since at least one and possibly both layers of the fibrous material arewet with the binding agent, they adhere to each other and to the watertray 20 to form an integral assembly. The second layer of fibrousmaterial therefore forms the inner fibrous layer 29. During thisprocess, the first layer may be rolled over the second layer at theperipheral top edge 19. The formed liner 18 is then removed from themold and dried such that it maintains the molded shape after drying. Theliner 18 is then placed within the basket 12 and filled with suitablesoil 13 and plants 11.

A water level 26 is therefore advantageously maintained by the watertray 20 and in the event that the basket 12 is overfilled, the waterlevel 26 will rise to the peripheral edge 22 and then overflow in orderto maintain a relatively drier portion of soil above the water level 26and within or below the peripheral top edge 19 of the liner 18. Theperipheral edge 22 may be located at various levels in order to achievethe proper water level and air flow through the overflow region 24 for agiven horticultural application.

The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing theinvention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope andspirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoingdescription be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and thatthe scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together withtheir full range of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A planter for receiving a growing medium whichsupports plantings, the planter comprising: a rigid open basket; a linerplaced within the basket; the liner extending from a bottom surface overa substantial portion of an inner surface of the basket to a peripheraltop edge; and, a water tray being integrally formed within the liner andhaving a peripheral edge which is located within the liner and spacedapart from the peripheral top edge; and, an overflow region located inthe liner between the peripheral top edge and the peripheral edge of thewater tray.
 2. The planer of claim 1 wherein the liner is formed from anouter fibrous layer and an inner fibrous layer which are joinedtogether.
 3. The planter of claim 2 wherein the outer and inner fibrouslayers are seamless.
 4. The planter of claim 1 wherein the water tray isformed of a non-porous material.
 5. The planter of claim 1 wherein thewater tray is formed of a semi-porous material.
 6. A planter having aliner comprising: a fibrous outer layer extending from a bottom surfaceof the liner to a peripheral top edge; an inner fibrous layer locatedadjacent to the outer fibrous layer and also extending to a peripheraltop edge; and, a water tray located between the inner and outer fibrouslayers and extending to a peripheral edge which is spaced apart from theperipheral top edge of the first and second fibrous layers; wherein theliner has an overflow region located between the peripheral edge of thewater tray and the peripheral top edge of the liner.
 7. The planter ofclaim 6 wherein the outer and inner fibrous layers are seamless.
 8. Theplanter of claim 6 wherein the water tray is formed of a non-porousmaterial.
 9. The planter of claim 6 wherein the water tray is formed ofa semi-porous material.
 10. The planter of claim 6 further comprising arigid basket containing the liner such that the overflow region islocated proximate an open end of the basket.